SEN Early Years
Inclusion Service
Help with toilet training
Before starting to toilet train
Start changing your child in the bathroom.
Change your child standing up once they can manage that.
Involve your child in flushing toilet and washing hands after changing.
Talk about the pee or poo in the nappy, and explain that it goes in the toilet.
Use the same words for pee/wee/poo/toilet. Everyone should use the same
words.
Make sure the bathroom is child friendly. You may need to provide a step for feet
or a potty or seat.
Getting ready
• Dress your child in clothes that are easy to
pull down and up.
• Have plenty of pants available – there will be
accidents.
• It may be helpful to look at some picture
books about using the potty or toilet with
your child.
• You could use the app ‘Poo goes home to
Pooland’ (A cartoon story you can download
on a phone to encourage a child who is
reluctant to use a toilet and prefers to poo in
a nappy)
Starting to use the toilet or potty
Work out how often your child does a wee and bring them to the
toilet before that. Check how long their nappy is dry. A piece of
kitchen roll inside the nappy can help with this. If the nappy is dry
for up to 2 hours, take them to the toilet before the 2 hours is up.
It may be helpful for your child to watch a trusted adult use the
toilet.
Don’t ask your child if they want to use the toilet, just take them,
saying ‘It’s toilet time’.
Praise your child when they use the toilet.
•When your child is using the toilet enough that the nappy is
usually dry, you can try taking the nappy off and using pants.
•Accidents will happen. Clean up any accidents with no fuss.
•Keep to a routine.
You can use a picture schedule to help your child understand.
It’s toilet time.
Trousers down.
Pants down.
Sit on toilet. Hold on.
Pee.
Use toilet paper.
Pants up.
Trousers up.
Flush.
Wash Hands.
Dry hands.
Praise your child when they use the toilet.
Use the same simple language to break down steps
You could cover the steps using Velcro once completed
Encouraging your child to stay on the toilet
Sometimes it is helpful to sing songs or look at
books to encourage your child to stay on the
toilet a little longer.
Bubbles or another activity can help too.
Further Information
ERIC - The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity:
a helpline for families to contact an expert on toileting
information and guides to download on potty training,
bowel problems (constipation & soiling), daytime bladder
problems and bedwetting
Click here to visit ERIC's website for parents & carers
Helpline: 0808 1699 949
Have a look at ERIC's Guide to Potty Training
Bladder & Bowel UK
Advice and information on all bladder and bowel issues in
children and young people including those with additional
needs.
Resources that will help parents, carers, professionals and
schools cope with incontinence in children and young
people.
Click here to visit the Bladder & Bowel UK website
Helpline: 0161 607 8219